creates a conflict with my basic programming, so I cannot specify exactly how much assistance I can render in a battle with other humans.'
Cale frowned. 'Now that is bad news. I need to know how much help you can be. Will your programming prevent me from using the weapons?
'I am unable to answer definitively, Captain,' Tess replied slowly, obviously running tests and diagnostics. 'The prohibition against allowing harm through inaction is somewhat weaker than the more direct prohibition against harming a human. This renders it more susceptible to interpretation, and permits the defense programming to become a factor. I am certain I will not be forced to disable the weapons. I believe I will be able to assist you with targeting data, charging the laser and loading the quickfirer. I am certain, however, that I will be prevented from actually firing a weapon.'
'So, we need to improvise some manual controls for the weapons,' Cale said. 'Luckily, we'll have plenty of time. They won't attack in a settled system, and no one can attack a ship in jump. We have a day and a half before we reach the jump point. Then we'll have ten days to two weeks in jump, depending upon our destination. Speaking of that, have you and Dee come up with one? A destination, I mean.'
Tess's voice took on an amused tone. 'We have located several that Dee considers suitable. She plans to talk to you about them. But I suspect she will wait until the last moment. She still harbors a hope of returning to Faith.'
'Well, we have an added requirement, now. We need to have a destination that will require the first recal stop to be in an uninhabited system. If we're going to have to fight, we want to do it as soon as possible, and we don't want stray civilians as witnesses.'
'Why not? We are the victims. They are the pirates.'
Cale shook his head. 'No. We would have to wait for them to make the first move. We may need the advantage of surprise gained by a first strike. Anyway, as I see it, we need a destination two jumps away, where we may be able to get medical help and ship repairs. Once the fight's over, we'll want to get to help as quickly as possible. To sum up, we need,' he began ticking off the requirements on his fingers. 'A destination two jumps away, with an empty system as the recal point. The second jump should be as short as possible, but the destination should have enough advanced technology to provide medical treatment and repairs to your systems if necessary. Oh, and it would be nice if it were a place Dee would like.'
'Stringent requirements. I have a destination that meets all requirements, except that I doubt Dee would like it. Angeles.'
'Angeles? I just skimmed the data on local systems. Tell me about it.'
'Well,' Tess replied, 'for one thing, while Faith may be moving from democracy to hereditary monarchy, Angeles is already a hereditary monarchy, and has been for centuries. In fact, it is amazingly stable for that form of government.
'Historically, the weakness of a hereditary monarchy is that eventually a fool or an idiot becomes king. One of the early kings of Angeles set up a system of adoption and provisions for removal from the succession list when necessary. So far, it has worked. When an unsuitable heir has appeared, the royal family has altered the line of succession. And when no heir was apparent, they have been very conscientious about adopting gifted children into the line.'
Cale grinned. 'I doubt Dee would approve. She would probably be starting a movement within a week!'
'Perhaps,' Tess replied. 'However, the dynasty has carefully preserved personal freedoms. A reasonably free press is tolerated, and a bureaucracy controlled by a parliament carries on most of the day-to-day business. It has many of the characteristics of a constitutional monarchy, with the exception that the King has absolute veto over everything. Remarkably, the people respect the monarchy, and they actually seem quite proud of it.
'At any rate, in response to your requirements, the monarchy has retained control of off-planet trade, which for centuries has supported the government. Taxes are mainly collected for regional and local needs, and are very low except for those imposed on heavy industries. As a result, the planet itself is largely pastoral and prosperous. Heavy industries were encouraged by the tax structure to relocate to orbit. There are colonies at all five LaGrange points engaged in one industry or another. A large space station, known as 'Trading Central' orbits the planet, and serves as the center of off-planet trade. Even since the Fall they have retained a comparatively brisk offworld trade, though it continues to decline each year. Shipyard services and ship's chandlers are readily available on Trading Central, as are advanced medical facilities. In short, Angeles meets all of your requirements except that of pleasing Dee.'
Cale frowned. 'Yes, well, I'm afraid she'll just have to manage. This is a matter of survival. We could be badly hurt fighting off a pirate bigger than you, and we may need a refuge badly. Okay, enter the coordinates for a jump to Angeles, and I guess you can speed it up a bit now. I see no sense in prolonging the agony. Oh, and would you ask Dee to join me in the lounge, please?'
'She is already in the lounge, Captain.' Tess replied. 'She is presently reviewing the ship's vid library.'
'That's strange. She could do that in her stateroom.'
Cale could almost hear a shrug in Tess's tone. 'Perhaps she became lonely. In any event, it seems an excellent opportunity to engage her in discourse.'
A slight flush crept up Cale's neck. 'Thank you, Tess,' he replied with massive dignity. 'I believe I will do just that.'
He rose quickly from his chair and hurried to the door to the lounge. Putting on a large smile, he entered.
Dee turned from the viewscreen. 'Good morning, Captain,' She said cheerfully. She had evidently taken a shipsuit and done some amateur tailoring, perhaps with the help of Tess's robot minions. It displayed her figure in ways the shipsuit's designer had never anticipated. Cale found the resulting jumpsuit attractive and exciting, though there was nothing erotic in its design.
Good morning, Dee,' Cale replied. 'I'm glad you're here. I have news. I have selected a destination.'
Her eyes narrowed and an angry flush suffused her face. 'Oh,' she replied in a barely controlled tone, 'Have you? I thought I was to have a voice in that selection.' Her fists balled.
'I'm sorry,' Cale hurriedly replied. 'We're being followed. I think it may be a pirate.' He quickly summarized the reasons for heading to Angeles. 'How many people would know about the letter of credit your father gave you?'
The flush faded from her face, replaced by a concerned expression. 'I don't know. I'm sure my father wouldn't have kept it very secret. Surely you don't think it is large enough to attract a pirate?'
Cale shrugged. 'Another non-secret was the fees and bonuses awarded by the Senate and the church. Between them and the letter of credit, I suspect it's quite enough to attract a pirate, especially a small-timer or one down on his luck.'
She sat down with a thump. “Is there anything we can do?' She appeared composed, but there was a tinge of fear in her voice.
'Oh, yes,' he replied. “ Cheetah was an Old Empire viceroy's yacht. She is armed. But she's no warship, and Tess's programming limits what she can do to help. She's also quite fast in normal space, and Tess is quite an advanced AI. Largely, our chances depend on what modifications, if any, they've made to that Epsilon-class tramp they're pushing. There's no way to tell about that until we fight her, of course, but I think our chances would be pretty good.'
'So you've decided to fight?' Her tone was cold, distant.
Cale shook his head and smiled. 'No, of course not. Everyone aboard has a vote on that. I'm trying to make certain your vote is an informed one. If possible, I intend to try to run away. If that doesn not seem possible, the only options are to surrender or fight. If we surrender, the options are probably gang rape and slavery or death for you, and torture and death for me. I'm voting to fight. What's your vote?'
Suddenly one of her blinding smiles bloomed. 'Fight, of course. I just wanted to be consulted.'
He returned her smile. 'All right. Now, have you ever fired a weapon?'
She shrugged, creating unintended distractions for Cale. 'I was the daughter of the most important church official on Faith. Of course, I received self-defense training in hand-to-hand, firearms, lasers, needlers, blasters, vibroblades, and swords. But not with ship's weapons, of course.'
He nodded, impressed. 'Then you will have had to confront your ability to kill another human.'
'Yes. It is not a pleasant prospect. But some of the simulations were total immersion. Sight, sound and even
